The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is set to extend Macao’s bridging role, making use of the city’s network of overseas Chinese community to foster joint participation in the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
The comment was made on Monday (12 June) by Adviser to the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung, who led a Government delegation to Beijing for the “Second Global Overseas Chinese Industry and Commerce Convention”.
On Monday morning, the Government delegation attended the Convention’s opening ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People. In the afternoon, the delegation attended a forum on development of the “Belt and Road” initiative and coordination for Chinese chambers of commerce, as well as a forum on overseas Chinese and China’s innovative development.
Macao could play a greater role in engaging the involvement of Portuguese-speaking countries in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” initiative), said Mr Kou.
With the advantages available to Macao under the “One country, two systems” principle, the city’s unique platform functions and its connections to a vibrant community of overseas Chinese, Macao was able to make further contributions in the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Mr Kou stated Macao was dedicated also to pushing forward the development of the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (known collectively as the “Centre and Platform” policies); strategic positions laid down by the Central Government in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan.
Following his attendance at the convention, Mr Kou said he had gained further understanding on how overseas Chinese from across the world were becoming involved in a large number of projects under the “Belt and Road” initiative.
The Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Ms Qiu Yuanping, called – during a meeting in March with the Chief Executive – for further support from the SAR Government for Macao’s overseas Chinese community, as well as for local industry and commerce, in relation to the development of the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative, stated Mr Kou during a Monday forum session on development of the “Belt and Road” initiative and coordination for Chinese chambers of commerce.
That was one of the reasons why the Government had formed a delegation – consisting of Government officials, representatives of Macao’s overseas Chinese community, and representatives of industry and commerce – to go to Beijing to attend the Convention, said Mr Kou.
Members of the Government delegation included Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Ms Irene Va Kuan Lau; and representatives of the Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, including Mr Lao Ngai Leong, Mr Lao Nga Wong, Mr Wong Pan Seng and Mr Chan Hoi Lon.
